senator vitter is co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment to end birthright citizenship, with some exceptions:
the armed forces exception is interesting because it would mean that children of illegal immigrants would get citizenship if at least one of his/her illegal immigrant parent was a member of the armed forces. the parent, presumably, would continue to be an illegal immigrant, even as that person risks his/her life for american security.
meanwhile, senator vitter was a major opponent of the DREAM act. the act would have permitted people who came into the u.s. illegally as children to become legal permanent residents of the u.s. if they join the military or go to college. senator vitter spoke out against the DREAM act and then applauded its rejection by the senate at the end of 2010.
i just find that odd. in senator vitter's ideal world, illegal aliens who are illegal not by their own choice (but rather through the choice of their parents when they were brought illegal to this country as a minor) cannot become legal aliens no matter what they do, even if they serve in the u.s. military. but the child of an illegal immigrant whose illegal parent chooses to join the military gets to be a full citizen (not just a legal alien), when he or she otherwise would not be. the child, even a grown child, has no say in the thing that determines his/her legal status. vitter doesn't seem to have a problem with awarding legality under the immigration laws in exchange for military service. he just doesn't want the person being legalized to have any choice in the matter.
Rand Paul (Ky.) and David Vitter (La.) are introducing a resolution this week that would amend the Constitution so that a person born in the United States could only become an American citizen if one or more of his or her parents is a legal citizen, legal immigrant or member of the armed forces, according to a joint press release Thursday.(emphasis added)
the armed forces exception is interesting because it would mean that children of illegal immigrants would get citizenship if at least one of his/her illegal immigrant parent was a member of the armed forces. the parent, presumably, would continue to be an illegal immigrant, even as that person risks his/her life for american security.
meanwhile, senator vitter was a major opponent of the DREAM act. the act would have permitted people who came into the u.s. illegally as children to become legal permanent residents of the u.s. if they join the military or go to college. senator vitter spoke out against the DREAM act and then applauded its rejection by the senate at the end of 2010.
i just find that odd. in senator vitter's ideal world, illegal aliens who are illegal not by their own choice (but rather through the choice of their parents when they were brought illegal to this country as a minor) cannot become legal aliens no matter what they do, even if they serve in the u.s. military. but the child of an illegal immigrant whose illegal parent chooses to join the military gets to be a full citizen (not just a legal alien), when he or she otherwise would not be. the child, even a grown child, has no say in the thing that determines his/her legal status. vitter doesn't seem to have a problem with awarding legality under the immigration laws in exchange for military service. he just doesn't want the person being legalized to have any choice in the matter.
